01 November 1897
Massimiliano Allegri has urged his troops to claim the seven points that stand between Juventus and Scudetto glory as soon as possible, with the first three in his sights when Lazio travel to Juventus Stadium tomorrow evening.
While many sections of the media are already regarding the destiny of this season’s league title as a foregone conclusion, Allegri is quick to point out that the Bianconeri have two massive hurdles to climb before they can contemplate crossing the finish line.
Before discussing his side’s title push, however, the Tuscan tactician’s first thoughts were rightly reserved for Claudio Marchisio, who sadly saw his season come to an end after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s 4-0 triumph over Palermo.
Here is a selection of his thoughts:
Claudio Marchisio
“I spoke to Claudio yesterday and he was relaxed given the circumstances. It’s a serious injury, but let’s focus on the positives: he’s got a whole summer to recover and could be back with us by September.”
Seven and counting
“We need seven points to be mathematically certain of the Scudetto. It’s vital we get these as soon as possible. This is a particularly important moment, because we’ve got two tough games ahead of us.”
Work to be done
“Even though we won 4-0 against Palermo, we made mistakes in the way we managed the game. We switched off a little and suffered some serious lapses of concentration after taking the lead.”
A look at Lazio
“We’re up against a Lazio team under new management, they’re playing well and have registered back-to-back victories without conceding. They’re in the hunt for a Europa League place, as are next Sunday’s opponents Fiorentina.”
Team selection
“I still need to decide my team for tomorrow. Lemina or Hernanes are both vying for a spot in front of the defence. Both are in good shape and always make a positive contribution when the call comes. Further forward we’ll go with two from Pogba, Khedira, Asamoah and Sturaro, who are all available. As far as Pereyra’s concerned, he’ll return to the group on Thursday – risking him makes no sense.”
